Ruler and paper-cutter



(No Model.)

B. P. DAVIES. RULER AND PAPER CUTTER.

No. 552,988. Patented Jan. 14, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE...

RU LER AND PAPER-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 552,988, dated January14, 1896. A plication and June 15,1895. secure. 552,943. on model.)

To all whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, EBENEZER P. DAVIES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Ruler and Paper-Cutter, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in rulers and paper-cutters,and has for its object to provide a simple, convenient, and eflicientcombination device which shall combine a ruler, a blotter for removingink therefrom, and a paper-cutter, which may also be used as apaper-cutter and a measuring-rule.

A primary object of this invention is to utilize the ordinary roundruler in connection with a carrier-frame by means of which such rulermay be manipulated and controlled.

A further object of the invention is to provide such round ruler withmetallic end caps or ferrules, which are graduated and adapted to beused in' connection with a pointer at either or both ends of the framein which the ruler is mounted, for enabling the operator to space thelines at the same or any desired distance apart.

' Other'objects and advantages of the inven tion will appear in thecourse of the subjoined description.

In order to accomplish the objects above mentioned, the inventionconsists in certain novel features and details of construction andarrangement of parts, whereby advantages in point of simplicity andeiiiciency are attained, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated inthe drawings, and finally embodied in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of acombined ruler and paper-cutter constructed in accordance with thisinvention and looking towardthe rear thereof. Fig. 2 is a similar viewlooking toward the front of the device. Fig. 3 is a transverse verticalsection through the same. Fig. i is also a transverse vertical sectionshowing the blotter in the form of a cylindrical roller.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in theseveral figures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates an ordinary roundruler, which may be made of wood or any preferred material and of anydesired length and diameter. For the purposes of carrying out thisinvention, the ends of said ruler have applied thereto a pair ofmetallic caps or ferrules 2, the annular flanges or portions of whichare graduated for a purpose that will appear. This round ruler isjournaled at its ends in a pair of end brackets or frame-plates 3, whichare substantially triangular in shape and have interposed between themseveral connecting bars or rods, which contribute to form a stout rigidframe, by means of which the ruler 1 may be controlled. These endbrackets or frame-plates are provided each with an integrally-formedspur a, which performs the office of a pointer, and which, when used inconnection .with the graduated caps or forrules upon the ends of theround ruler, enable the operator to properly space the distance betweenthe lines.

5 designates the paper-cutter, which consists of a flat strip of metal,riveted or other wise secured at its ends to said end plates 3, saidstrip being beveled or chami'ered off at its rear edge to facilitate itsoperation as a papercutter, and being also provided with a series ofgraduations corresponding to the graduations on an ordinary foot-rule,as shown.

6 designates a top bar, which extends across between theupwardly-projecting ends of the triangular end plates and is rivetedthereto, said barbeing round in cross-section and constituting thehandle of the device, by means of which the same may be grasped andmoved across the surface to be ruled.

Iuterposed between the stationary papercutter and the handle 6 is a pairof approximatelywertical braces S, and interposed between and connectedwith said braces is a central horizontal thumb-rod S), which is adaptedto receive the thumb of the operator for enabling the device to be morethoroughly steadied by the operators hand.

10 designates another rod, which is interposed between the end plates 3and is arranged in close proximity to the round ruler 1. A sheet orstrip of blotting-paper or other absorbent material 11 is looped at itscentral portion around this rod 10, and the terminals or opposite edgesof said strip of blottingpaper are tucked or inserted between the ruler1 and a small longitudinal rod 12, interposed between and connected withthe end plates and located near said ruler. The relative disposition ofthe revoluble ruler and the longitudinal rods 10 and 12 is such that theblotting-paper is held normally pressed against and resting in contactwith said ruler. A pair of spring-clasps 13 are applied to the rod 10and the blotting-paper or other material extending around the same, forholding said paper firmly thereon. By pressing said clasps rearwardly ortoward the paper cutter, it will be seen that the blotting-paper may bepressed still more closely against the ruler 1.

If preferred, the rod 10 may be omitted and replaced by a rollerextending longitudinally of the device and journaled at its ends in theend plates 3, said roller being covered with blotting-paper orequivalent absorbent material, as indicated in Fig. 4. This constructionwill dispense with the strip of blotting-paper 11, rod 12, andspring-clasps referred to. By means of either of the constructionsdescribed, however, it will be apparent that I am enabled to utilize around ruler, which is acknowledged to be the best form of ruler inexistence and to thoroughly control the movements thereof by means ofthe frame above described. By means of the graduated end cap or ferrulesupon said roller, in connection with the pointers on the end plates, thelines may be spaced the same or any desired distance apart, and byreason of the particular arrangement of blotter referred to theliability of the ink beingcar ried by the revoluble ruler to the paperor surface being ruled is entirely obviated. The distance between thepoint of contact of the ruler and the paper-cutter is of such extentthat any desired amount of pressure may be applied to the handle-rod atthe top when used as a paper-cutter or ruler. It will also be apparentthat by the construction described all applied pressure and weight arethrown upon the ends of the round ruler, thus enabling the latter tomove with accuracy across the surface to be ruled, and preventing allliability of the same from twisting as in the case of an ordinary rulerwhere the pressure is applied at the center. If desired, notches 14 maybe formed in the vertical braces between the paper-cutter and thehandle-rod at the top, thus providing for the reception of a penholder.

The combination ruler, paper-cutter, 850., above described will be foundof the greatest possible convenience and utility in office and schoolwork. It is very simple in construction, can be manufactured at veryslight cost and will effect a great saving in time over the ordinaryruling devices in common use.

Changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may beresorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theadvantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is

l. A combined ruler and paper cutter, comprising a cylindrical ruler, ametal paper cutting strip extending in parallel relation thereto, a pairof end plates to which said cutter is rigidly secured and in which theruler is journaled, and a hand rod connecting said end plates andlocated above the plane of the ruler and cutter and in verticalalignment with the space between said ruler and cutter. substantially asand for the purpose described. V

2. The herein described device, comprising a cylindrical revolubleruler, a suitable frame in which said ruler is journaled, a sheet orstrip of absorbent material arranged within the said frame and inproximal relation to the ruler, and means for pressing said absorbentmaterial in contact with the ruler, substan tially as and for thepurpose specified.

3. In a combined ruler and paper cutter. the combination with a pair ofend plates. of a cylindrical ruler interposed between and journaled insaid end plates, a stationary paper cutter rigidly connected with saidend plates and extending in parallel relation to said ruler, a topconnecting bar interposed between said end plates and constituting thehandle of the device, and a pair of approximately vertical bracesinterposed between the paper cutter and handle and connected by ahorizontal rod which is adapted to receive the thumb pressure of theoperators hand, for the purpose substantially as described.

pair of end plates, in combination with a cylindrical and revolubleruler interposed between and j ournaled in said end plates, a metallicpaper cutting strip interposed between and rigidly connected with saidend plates. a handle rod connecting said plates at or near their upperends, a supplemental rod extending in parallel relation and arranged inclose proximity to said cylindrical ruler and adapted to have a sheet orstrip of blotting paper or other absorbent material applied thereto.another rod also arranged close to said ruler and adapted to have theedges of the blotting material inserted between the same and said ruler,and one or more clasps for clamping the blotting material to the rod towhich it is applied, said clasps being adapted to operate substantiallyin the manner and for the purpose set' forth. 7

5. A combined ruler and paper cutter, comprising a cylindrical ruler, ametal paper cutting strip extending in parallel relation thereto, a pairof end plates to which said paper cutter is rigidly secured and in whichsaid ruler is journaled, a top rod or handle interposed between andconnecting said end plates. and two or more uprights or connectingbraces interposed between the top bar or handle and the paper cuttingstrip and formed with notches which constitute a pen rack, substantiallyas set forth.

4. In a combined ruler and paper cutter. a

6. In a combined ruler and paper cutter, an paper or other absorbentmaterial wrapped oppositely disposed pair of end plates spaced aroundthe same and resting in contact with any desired distance apart incombination the ruler, substantially as specified. with a revolubleruler interposed between In testimony that I claim the foregoing as andj ournaled in said plates, a metal paper my own I have hereto affixed mysignature in T5 cutter also interposed between and having a the presenceof two witnesses.

rigid connection with said plates, a top rod EBENEZER P. DAVIES. orhandle disposed above the ruler and cutter, Witnesses: and a rodextending parallel. to and in close WV. S. JONES,

IO proximity with said ruler and having blotting J. T. MORRIS.

